At the Close of a Century

He's been called one of the most influential performers and songwriters of the century, but until 1999 {$Stevie Wonder} didn't even have a box set to call his own. Such was the reissue campaign at {@Motown} that, until very recently, some of the best pop music of the '60s sounded poorer in reissue form than when it was first played on AM radio. In 1996, the long-awaited {$Stevie Wonder} digital-age hits package {^Song Review} reached the shelves, but it didn't even follow compilation etiquette (that is, chronological order). Finally, {^At the Close of a Century} made everything right -- complete with digital remastering, near-perfect sound, complete coverage of his epic career, an attractive design, and copious liner notes and pictures. The box, a four-disc set spanning 1962 to 1996, debuts with {&"Fingertips, Pts. 1 & 2,"} the long-unheard seven-minute version of his first hit. The first disc includes every hit that fans can remember, including great-sounding versions of {&"Uptight (Everything's Alright)"} and {&"Hey Love,"} plus plenty of moderate hits they may not remember, like his definitive cover of {$the Beatles}' {&"We Can Work It Out."} Disc two features more than a dozen of his biggest hits, including {&"Superstition,"} {&"You Are the Sunshine of My Life,"} {&"Living for the City,"} {&"Higher Ground,"} and {&"Boogie On Reggae Woman."} Disc three begins with no less than nine tracks from {^Songs in the Key of Life}, his standout double album from 1976. Right into the '80s and '90s, {$Stevie Wonder} remained at the top of the charts, with hits like {&"Rocket Love,"} {&"Master Blaster (Jammin'),"} {&"Happy Birthday,"} {&"I Just Called to Say I Love You,"} and {&"Part-Time Lover."} It took far too long, but {@Motown} finally issued a box set worthy of {$Stevie Wonder}'s continuing artistry. ~ John Bush, Rovi